Gass relief hole botom of breech block.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Vlim

Luger frequently patented features on one gun type and then licensed his patents to be used on other types. Quite normally, as many features will work just as well on a rifle and a pistol.

Anyway, I think the flutes help in both situations: clearing muck and some gas relief.

The point remaining is that drilling holes in breech blocks of decent guns does not help their value.

The flutes cannot help with gas relief in the luger striker/breech bolt arrangement, one just has to look at the interaction/fit of the pieces to observe that.

If the grooves were cut farther back to allow gas to escape from the bolt bore, they would act as a gas relief pathway; but they lead "nowhere".

The arrangement of the firing pin/striker in the bolt shown in the patent drawing is an entirely different design, and the grooves Do lead to an escape route for the gas.

The OP was advised of the possibility of downside to the value or saleability of a collectible luger if modified.
Now it is his choice to proceed or not.